Early this morning there was a knock on the door. The fellow
standing there had a large cardboard box wrapped in thick sticky tape. I
immediately knew that inside the box there was a 5 kilogram plough anchor. I
had ordered it via Ebay three days ago. The supplier was Secure Fix Direct.Com.
An inspection of the anchor revealed that a very small area,
less than the size of a little fingernail, had not been galvanised. This
blemish will not affect the working of the anchor, and at £24.90, including delivery;
I think it represents good value for money.
The anchor can be stowed in the ground tackle locker, or it
can be kept ready for immediate use, along with its chain and warp, in a plastic
box at the front end of the cabin. If the whole of the floor space is
required for the self-inflating mattress, room can be made by stowing the box
and its contents forward of bulkhead two. Alternatively, the box could be
lashed to the aft deck.
4 comments:
That looks a handsome anchor Bill, I'd say thats a lot better value than a can of paint at the same price!
I sincerely hope that you get to use it in earnest.
Richard,
I can't rule out the possibility of using the anchor, but 'in earnest' I would rather not!
The last time I was reliant upon anchors was in the Helford River when there was an easterly gale. I set two anchors off the bow. This reduced veering and made for a more comfortable ride.
I've been trying to work up enthusiasm for launching 'Minnow', and now that I have the anchor, there is no practical reason why I shouldn't, except I have no desire.
The element of doubt regarding my physical ability to manage the boat, and my lack of self-assurance at being able to cope if faced with a taxing situation, are contributory factors to my lack of desire for being afloat.
Cheers,
Bill.
God bless you Bill
I hope that you have some luck with your little boat after all of your hard efforts over the winter. I sail on the Bristol channel on a friends boat which is 32 ft, 90% of the boats in the marina never seem to go anywhere.
I have been forcing us to practice anchoring so that we have got a good system in place in an emergency and it is a struggle each time to get the anchor up, and I'm 50 and packing a bit of beef, so no reason for you to feel any shame. I wondered from the comfort of my armchair if an option might have been to tie a float to the cut end of the anchor warp tp perhaps allow for a retrieval at a future date. But in reality we need to practice fitting some sort of trip line for our own anchor as it would cost a lot to replace it and the chain if it got fouled.
Heading for around Lundy race this weekend weather permitting. Lundy is the place where I have seen the highest number of dolphins and managed to touch one some years ago when a friend held onto me as I reached over the rails and touched the back of the dolphin swimming in our bow wave. We were sailing fast as it was a beneteau fast 40,
Last summer I thought I had seen a walrus off Plymouth but it was a large seal with two fish in its mouth . Its moments like this that make me want to go on the water as you never know what is going to happen.
I like sailing in company and if I get my own boat I'm going to invite you along for a sail. Best of luck.
Michael,
Thank you so much for your kind words.
I've sailed on and off for the past 60 years, and only once have I buoyed an anchor with a trip line.
Having never lost an anchor, the recent departure of my bower anchor came as a bit of a shock.
Take care on the waters of the Bristol Channel - That's where I did my first dinghy sailing - at Burnham-on-Sea.
I hope you do get your own boat and that you will be free to sail her as much as you like.
All the best,
Bill.
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